Converter



2 Sheets-S-heet 1. H. J. LEWIS. CONVERTER.

(No Model.)

Patented'Apr. 23, 189.5.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H. J. LEWIS.

CONVERTER.

Patented Apr. 23, 1895.

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PATENT miren.

HARRY J. LVIS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTER.

SBECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,838, dated April 23, 1895. Application led August 29, 1892. Renewed March 22, 1895- Serial No. 542,860- (No model.)

To cZZZ whom, may cow/0eme:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Converters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has special reference to the construction of Bessemer steel converters.`

In converters of this class now commonly used, the air blast is allowed to escape over the top of the molten metal whenever the converter is tipped so as to cause the metal to flow away and uncover the upper portion of the tuyere. As a consequence of this action a large proportion of the blast goes to waste while the remaining portion becomes lweakened and the metal which covers the lower openings in the tuyere is not eftectually treated.

A further difticulty is that the metal often backlows, tills and clogs the covered portion of the tuyere openings on account of the reduced pressure caused by the liberation of the blast above.

The purpose of my invention is to provide superior means which will automatically cut ott the blast from those tuyere openings left uncovered when the metal flows away from them in the tilting operation.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l represents a longitudinal section through a converter standing in an upright position equipped with my improvements; Fig. 2, a similar section showing the converter tilted as in the act of discharging its contents; Fig. 3, a front elevation with part of the blast pipe cut away to show the valve within; Fig. 4, a side elevation showing the converter tilted, and the automatic mechanism for actuating the valve, dotted lines indicating the reversal of the converter. Eig. 5 represents a detail sectional view of the blast pipe or line and the valve; Fig. 6, a transverse section of the same.

The reference letter a denotes an ordinary Bessemer steel converter having the usual tuyere c. The hood n, back of the tuyere is divided into two chambers dand @formed by the partition f,so that theincoming air blast is equally divided at this point. The blast pipe g, leading. to these chambers is divided into two separate passages g', g2, by a longitudinal partition h. The passage g', leads to the chamber el, and the passage g2, to the chamber e. The throats of both passages are commanded by a iiap valve or damper t', centrally pivoted so as to close first one duct and then the other, and at the same time' maintain a constant pr-essure or blast ofair in the tuyere.

`This valve is controlled automatically by the mechanismfnow to be described. A sector k, is fixed to the standards or housing Z, or any other suitable fixed support, in which the trunnions Z are mounted. The valve stem m is connected to a crank-arm o, which is conneeted to a link p, and the opposite end of the link is eccentrically pin-jointed to a gear q. This gear revolves on a pin on the blast pipe g, and meshes with the fixed sector 7a, which causes it to revolve when the converter is tipped.

When the converter ot is tilted to an angle of about forty-live degrees, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the molten metal recedes from and uncovers the upper portion of the tuyere. Simultaneously with this movement, the gear q, is made to revolve and carry with it the link p, which moving backward actuates the crank arm o, and the valve stem, causing the valve to close or partly closel the throat of the upper passage g2. In the present instance the valve, when closed, leaves a small space g3, through which a small part of the blast is permitted to pass. This action prevents the idle escape of air and directs the force, which has hitherto been lost, through the lower portion of the tuyere, and hence through the metal. Now when the converter is righted, or moved back to a vertical position, the movement of the gear is reversed and the valve or damper is opened to permit the blast to pass equally through both passages. If the converter is tilted in an opposite direction (as shown in dotted lines) to that just described, then the valve is turned across the throat of the passage leadingI to the upper portion of the tuyere, and the blast is made to pass through the other passage to the IOO lower portion of the tuyere. Hence it will be seen that a constant pressure of air-blast is maintained in the tuyere, for either one or the other of the air passages is always open and neither is completely closed, at any time.

This automatic mechanism more perfectly utilizes all of the blast and effects a saving of time and power. It also results in a superior quality of metal by continuing the blast until the last moment, for it is evident that the mechanism can be so finely timed that it will operate with the greatest precision.

The number or air passages and air compartments could be increased to cause a greater division ofthe blast, but in the present instance two are deemed sufficient to illustrate the principle of my invention; and it is also evident that the particular form of mechanism herein described could be infinitely varied without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is-

1. A converter provided with an air-blastpipe having two or more separate passages, in combination with a valve adapted to control the passages, and tuyeres having adjacent to or below them two or more separate and independent air-chambers severally communicating with the separate air-passages, whereby the blast is diverted from the uncovered to the covered portion of the tuyeres during the tilting operation, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. A converter bottom provided with a plurality of air-chambers adjacent to and comsenses 4. In combination with a converter bottom and tuyeres, a divided blast-pipe' the several passages of which lead independently to the upper and lowerV portions respectively of the tuyeres, a valve located to command either of the passages, and valve connections arranged to arrest the admission of the blast to one passage while permitting it to enter the other, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In combination with the tuyeres of a converter, a divided blast-pipe the several passages of which lead independently to the upper and lower portions respectively of the tuyeres, said pipe being provided with a valve located to command either of the passages, and valve connections arranged to alternately open one passage and close the other when the converter is tilted.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY J. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

DANIEL J. SULLIVAN, LUoIUs O. FRAZIER. 

